Chapter Fourteen.
Frederick
He was seething. Who did that bitch think she was talking to address him like that?
Jess wasn’t worthy of licking Frederick’s boots.
She sat there, all superior, thinking she was safe.
Well, Jess Mayhew wasn’t. His uncle had called and said Mitchum had been his usual arrogant self and hadn’t even realised that this had been a ploy.
They desired information on the woman Mitchum was obsessed with.
Jess was insignificant, and it amused Frederick that his cousin had settled for a subpar female.
Did Jess really think her paltry skills in whatever ridiculous martial arts would work on him? Frederick would snap her like a twig. Jess would grasp her role, and that was ground beneath his boot.
When they moved on Mitchum, Jess Mayhew would be chained, beaten, and would learn her place, calling Frederick master.
An evil grin crossed Frederick’s lips; it was his due.
Women, such as Jess, should understand the sacrifices the Sealgair Uilebheist made for them.
They should be damn grateful men with traits similar to Frederick existed and not his pussy cousin.
Mitchum disgusted him, turning his back on family, heritage, and duty.
Frederick wondered how much influence the gimp, McDonald, had used on Mitchum to make him weak like him.
McDonald was a spineless freak as well. Frederick was sure that the accident McDonald had experienced could have been avoided if he’d been trained better. Hunters needed perfection, and neither McDonald nor Mitchum was that.
Frederick waited from his vantage point for McDonald. That fool would drive down this road shortly, and Frederick would be waiting. Today, they’d strike at his weak-ass cousin and let him know that, for all his tricks, Mitchum wouldn’t get away with his antics.
Diarmad
He planned to stay, but Mitch insisted he leave.
It was for Diar’s own protection, and he understood that, but even so, Diar wanted to be involved.
The two guys, Rhett and Leon, were obviously antagonistic.
They lacked faith in him and Mitch, and Diar didn’t push because of that.
Trust would come with time. After all, they had been hunted, and he and Mitch belonged to families that had committed unspeakable crimes against them.
Diar hit the end of the drive and pulled out.
He intended to head home to Scotland. He hated being in England.
At least in his Highland home, Diar knew the terrain and had escape routes planned.
Nope, the quicker Diar returned, the better.
While Sealgair Uilebheist were worldwide, there were more in the UK than anywhere else.
That was because the Uile-bheist once congregated in the United Kingdom.
Not anymore. Sealgair Uilebheist believed they now resided in Australia or Europe.
However, those who had offspring, lamia, vampires, and ghouls, for example, kept the Sealgair Uilebheist busy.
They’d hunt the children if they couldn’t get to the sires and dams. Diar steered around a sharp bend and heard a loud boom.
It was unexpected, and Diar barely had time to react.
On instinct, he yanked the steering wheel right and crossed the empty oncoming lane.
Diar’s car collided with the crash barrier as something impacted the boot in a flash.
The back of his vehicle exploded, lifted, and shunted forward. Diar cried out as he struggled for control, and then he tensed. The car was going to go over no matter what. Diar grabbed his phone and hit his emergency signal. The phone was torn away, and Diar could only hope the call placed.
Metal screamed as his vehicle punched a hole through the protective barrier and headed down the cliff. It crashed into a tree and wedged onto it.
The airbag deployed, smacking into his face, and Diar stabbed it to let the air out, and then blacked out.
Mitch
Mitch jumped when his phone squealed and then began a steady beeping.
“What’s that?” Rhett demanded.
“Diar’s emergency beacon. I need to go,” Mitch announced.
“This might be a trap; we’re staying,” Leon stated.
“Did I ask you?” Mitch snapped, heading for the door.
Jess was at his heels. “You’re not going alone,” she said.
Mitch nodded and headed for his car. He placed the phone in its holder and accessed the app that would lead him to Diar. The air was tense as Mitch hauled ass and roared down the driveway. From the GPS coordinates, Diar wasn’t far away.
“What’s the emergency beacon?” Jess asked.
“A programme we got that we hit if we’re in danger. We’ve never used it until now. Which means Diar is in big trouble,” Mitch gritted out. Worry swamped Mitch; the app showed Diar’s location, not his fate.
“There!” Jess shouted as they rounded a corner and spotted a hole in the crash barrier.
A man stood staring downwards at something. When he saw their car, he jumped into his own and sped off.
Mitch glimpsed him, but his concern lay with Diar.
“Fuck!” Mitch exclaimed, pulling into a lay-by. He didn’t hesitate and rushed across the road and peered down the steep slope. Mitch could see where a car had rolled down, and following the path, he spotted Diar’s crumpled vehicle.
He cautiously began making his way down, telling Jess to stay where she was.
His gut was tied in a knot; if Diar were badly hurt or worse…
he’d burn the world down around the Sealgair Uilebheist’s ears.
Mitch reached the car and tried to open the door.
It was so warped, Mitch had to brace his foot against it to open it.
After a struggle, Mitch finally opened it and shoved the deflated airbag away. Diar lay with his head on the wheel, blood dripping down his face, and his eyes closed. Panicked, Mitch felt for a pulse, and relief swept through him when he felt a pulse.
“How bad is he?” Jess demanded as she slammed into the car’s boot. The tree holding it in place groaned.
“Bad. We need an ambulance and a fire engine. Diar’s legs are trapped.” Mitch couldn’t stop staring at the blood pooling in the footwell. That meant Diar was in serious trouble. Had he lost his legs for good this time?
“Move,” Rhett demanded, and Mitch withdrew in surprise. “You need to get him out. Jess, call Mary and have her get Pandora ready. She needs to meet us. This man won’t last long otherwise. Leon’s taking my car back, and I’ll take yours and will follow you from his house.”
“Thank you, Rhett. Sorry, Mitch,” Jess apologised up front as she called Mary Worth three times. Jess grabbed Diar’s shoulder and then Mitch’s hand before he was ready. The world shifted, Mitch’s stomach tipped upside down, and he landed in the throne room.
Vomit rose, and Mitch headed for a bin in the corner.
When he turned back, Baba Yaga, Lilith, and Pandora were bent over Diar. Mitch almost threw up again when he saw the injuries to Diar’s stomach and legs. Diar wouldn’t survive this. Even if he did, Diar would never be pain-free again. Tears trickled down his cheeks.
“Let Diar die,” Mitch choked out. Baba Yaga and Lilith stared at him. Pandora completely ignored him as she held glowing hands over Diar.
“What?” Lilith demanded.
“Diar… those injuries… he won’t want to live with them,” Mitch murmured, dashing tears from his face.
“Good job he won’t have to,” Baba Yaga said.
“Mitch,” Jess wrapped herself around him, and he embraced her tightly. “Pandora can heal. She’s an amazing healer.”
A whitish-blue light shone from Pandora’s hands, and it grew until it covered Diar’s full body. Several people appeared in the tower, watching and placing their hands on Pandora. Not to distract to but to offer her strength and support, Mitch realised as Pandora didn’t respond.
Minutes ticked past, and then an hour, two hours, and Pandora continued working.
Most of the Uile-bheist arrived and offered wordless solidarity.
Twice, Lilith and Baba Yaya went into trances and bolstered Pandora with energy.
Mitch dropped to the ground and prayed. Four hours later, Pandora slumped into Dale’s/Invisible Man’s arms and closed her eyes.
“He’s healed but needs rest, or he’ll undo everything I’ve done,” Pandora murmured. Mitch scurried across the floor to check on Diar and was relieved to see his friend had colour in his cheeks. Diar lay serenely, his chest rising and falling steadily.
“He’ll make it?” he whispered as he placed a hand on Diar’s chest.
“Yes,” Pandora muttered. “And this time he’ll be pain-free.” Pandora’s eyes rolled up, and she closed them.
“I’ll take Pandora to her room,” Dale stated, picking her up.
“I’ll bring a restorative,” Baba Yaga said as she yawned.
“Your friend can’t stay here. Shay, please shift and carry our guest to Jess’s spare bedroom,” Lilith ordered gently.
“Diar’s really going to be okay?” Mitch gasped as he realised what they’d done for them. Diar would be pain-free. His friend had not experienced that for eighteen years.
“Diar sacrificed his legs for us. It’s the least we can do,” Pandora murmured as Dale picked her up and began carrying her out.
“Pandora needs rest,” Baba Yaga said, and Dale nodded. “What she did for Diarmad took a lot of energy.”
“And I’ll owe her for the rest of my life. Her actions saved Diar from death. Pandora has my lifelong loyalty and respect,” Mitch replied, with his hand on his heart.
Baba Yaga’s stern visage softened. “I can see you mean that, Mate of Jess. You are welcome here as long as I remain.”
“Well, I still don’t trust him,” Leon spat, and Jess kicked his ankle as he walked by.
“That’s because you’re as suspicious as hell,” Jess remarked mildly as Leon stared at her in shock.
“You kicked me!”
“Luckily, I didn’t slap you!” Jess retorted.
Leon turned to Mitch, who gazed impassively back. “What did you do to my sweet, loving sister?” he demanded. “I blame you for this!”
“Go ahead, I’m quite proud of her,” Mitch commented with a smirk. “At least Jess isn’t taking your shit anymore.”